Game apparatus



April 28, 1925.

1,535,280 J. J. ZARKER GAME APPARATUS I Filed July 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iled t J. J. ZARKER GAME APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1922 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 in II) e7 i I 26 I 234.551 09/0/ TOTAL VI$ITOR5 HOME TEAM lwuwim v 7 JJ Za r/rer Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. ZARK'ER, OF WICUNISCO, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed July 18,

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, JOHN J. ZARK'W', a citizen of the United States, residing at lViconisco, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a (lame Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

An object of this invention is to provide an eflicient and attractive base ball game apparatus having means for closely simulating the action in an actual game by introducing features of uncertainty and chance such as those which appear in the actual game to increase the interest in the play.

Another object of the invention is to produce a game apparatus which in addition to including the features of uncertainty and chance, also includes a means for keeping an accurate tally on the game and includes an apparatus wherein the players are moved in simulation of the movement occurring in the actual game.

With these and other objects in view that will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in a construction, combination and arrangement of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawings, wherein z- Figure 1 is a plan view of the game apparatus embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an edge view partly broken away of the same,

Figure 3 is a view of a score sheet suitable for use in connection with the apparatus,

Figure at is a sectional view of the game apparatus when in folded condition,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective of a disk or man which may be used in connection with the game.

The apparatus consists essentially of a base or board of any suitable form and dimensions upon which is represented a circular field 11 bounded by a circular series of stations 12 inscribed respectively to represent different possible plays by the participants in a game represented by two sides or clubs, one of which is at bat and the other is in the field as in the ordinary practice. A portion of the field 11 being laid oit to represent the infield or diamond 13 1922. Serial No. 575,831

with suitable representations of the positions of the players in the field including the home and other bases and the pitchers station.

Mounted pivotally as at 14 at the center of the circular field is an index arm or pointer 15 of which the index end is adapted to traverse the series or scale of stations indicating plays, the operating arm 16 of the index preferably being transversely resilient and being provided with a terminal knob or ball 17 which traverses a path which is intersected by a pivotal operating element 18 consisting of the representation of a bat, pivoted on the base at 19 and having an operating finger 20 which is adapted to be actuated by the finger of the player or participant in the game and also having a striking arm 21 which is adapted upon the proper operation of the element to strike the knob or ball 17 and cause a rotary movement of the index. The station at which the pointer of the index stops after an impulse imparted by the operating element 18 is supposed to represent a play which has taken place and upon a suitable score sheet such as that represented in Figure 3 a proper record of the play may be made.

The score board shown in Figure 3 and indicated at 22 comprises a base or board provided with upstanding sides 23 along three edges thereof and has printed thereon an infield or diamond 24. At the upper edge of the base or board there is provided three spots 25 indicating the number of men required to be out before a second team or club comes to bat. Arranged at the lower edge of the base or board is a score box 26 suitably marked to indicate the respective names of the teams playing and also to indicate theinnings being played as well as to keep the scores or runs made by the respective teams during each inning.

In the operation of the score board a number of buttons, coins or disks such as that shown in Figure 5 may be employed to represent the members oi. the team playing, it being understood that a number of the disks sutlicient to represent the number of persons in the game or the number of persons on each team are employed. hen the index 15 has been struck by the striking arm 21, and stopped at a station, one of the disks is moved. Should the index point to a station indicating a one base hit, one of the disks or men should be moved to the first base shown on the score board. Should the next batter get a base on balls the man on first would be moved to second base and should the next batter get a three base hit, the men on first and second bases would come home and the man getting the three base hit would be moved to third base. The next three men at the bat may each cause the index to stop at a station indicating an out for one reason or another, and the first team or club would have scored two runs and would have a man left on base. These scores would be credited to the team having made the same and the opposing team would then come to bat. hen a man is out, a disk, coin or the like used to represent a man is placed on one of the spots 25 indicating an out and when the spots are all covered, three men being out, in accordance with the well known rules governing the game of base ball, the opposing team then comes to bat.

In this way, by following the well known rules governing the game of base ball, which allows each batter a certain number of hits or opportunities to strike the ball, modified of course by fouls and the like, it is possible to carry out a game of base ball with accuracy in connection with the apparatus so that two players or groups of players, representing opposite sides or clubs in a base ball game, can carry out the conditions of the gan'ie with an accuracy and a degree of interest and entertainment closely approximating that derived from an actual game in the field. The resilience of the operating arm 16 of the index serves to add a degree of uncertainty to the movement of the pointer arm of the index, owing to the different actions of the operating arm by blows of different force imparted by the operating element consisting of the bat 18 which as indicated is pivoted on a line which is outside of the path or zone of movement of the index so as not to interfere with the turning or spinning of the latter when impelled.

The score board 22 and the base 10 are connected by a flexible strip 27 and are adapted to be folded one upon the other when the apparatus is not in use. The

score board 22 having upstanding sides 23 to form the body of a box or receptacle when the apparatus is folded, the upstanding sides 23 forming three sides of the box or receptacle and the connecting strip 27 forming the fourth side necessary to form the complete box or receptacle.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A base ball game apparatus having a base or board provided with a field bounded by a continuous circular series of stations designated consecutively to represent different possible plays on the baseball field, an index pivotally mounted at the center of said field and having a pointer arm for traversing and indicating differen stations in said series to thereby indicate the play which is supposed to have been made, said index being provided with an operating arm having a terminal knob or ball, said operating arm being transversely resilient whereby to add av degree of uncertainty to the movement of the pointer arm of the index, and a pivotal operating element mounted with its axis beyond the range of movement of the index and provided with a striking arm for invading said path of movement to strike and impart movement to the knob or ball.

2. A device of the class described consisting of chance board and a score board, flexible means connecting said boards together with a hinge in folding movement one over the other, removable mechanism carried by chance board and in the folded position being located intermediate the board, flanges extending solely from the score board and at three sides thereof engage and support the chance board against injury to the moving parts, the chance board thus being unobstructed at its edges when in open position and said flanges in the latter position serving to prevent movement of the game pieces off of the score board.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. ZA'RKER.

Witnesses CHARLES Row, Fnnxwoon ZARKER. 

